I am very ready to recognise the ability with which many of these are stated, but it is the ability of the advocate rather than of the impartial critic.

There is a constant tendency to draw conclusions much in excess of the premisses.

An observation, true in itself with a certain qualification and restriction, is made in an unqualified form, and the truth that it contains is exaggerated.

Above all, wherever there is a margin of ignorance, wherever a statement of the Evangelist is not capable of direct and exact verification, the doubt is invariably given against him and he is brought in guilty either of ignorance or deception.

I have no hesitation in saying that if the principles of criticism applied to the fourth Gospel--not only by the author of 'Supernatural Religion,' but by some other writers of repute, such as Dr.Scholten--were applied to ordinary history or to the affairs of every-day life, much that is known actually to have happened could be shown on _a priori_ grounds to be impossible.